Editorials

Robert Gates, the U.S. secretary of Defense, announced last week that Boeing and Northrop Grumman/EADS North America would again bid on the $40 billion project to replace the Eisenhower-era aerial refueling tanker fleet.

Northrop Grumman/EADS won the first time, and it looked as if the project and some 1,500 jobs would come to Mobile. But Boeing protested, launched a political campaign — that included bills introduced in Washington that would tilt the playing field in their favor — and got the Government Accountability Office to investigate.

The GAO review concluded that the Air Force made procedural errors and that the contract should be recontested.

So, now they will try again — but this time with John Young, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, overseeing the process.

A couple of things need to be noted.

First, nothing has been shown to suggest that Alabama's role in this was in any way part of the problem. The state did what it could to lure Northrop Grumman/EADS, and it succeeded in an incredibly tight competition.

Second, this is an abbreviated strategy for re-bidding. Of Boeing's 111 complaints, the GAO agreed with only seven, and those seven points are supposed to be the ones revisited. Gov. Bob Riley and other state officials have expressed confidence that the new process will only validate the earlier decision. Boeing supporters are less than pleased, and some are suggesting that new bids be prepared.

Thus, it is a new ballgame, and both sides are approaching the matter with caution. And no one (other than Gates) seems to feel that the matter will be settled before the end of the year as promised. Of course, that's when the whole thing will be handed to the new administration when it enters the White House.

Not surprisingly, both presidential candidates — Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama — applauded the Gates decision. They would be foolish to do otherwise. They also would be foolish to make it a political issue in the upcoming campaign.

This is a situation where both parties, both candidates and supporters of both companies need to step back, take a deep breath and be quiet.

As much as this page would like the project to go to Northrop Grumman/EADS and for the tankers to be built in Mobile, the decision must be based on which company has the best product to meet the requirements of our Air Force. This is not a political decision — and should not become one during this election year.

It also is not a decision based on which local economy should receive a giant boost. It is a decision that must be based on the needs of our armed forces and our nation.

All other considerations should be ignored.